French home energy cheque aid will be sent later in 2025 - who gets this?

Recipients of France’s energy vouchers (chèques énergie) will receive them later than usual this year. 

Usually sent in April, the five million plus recipients will need to wait until at least June/July to receive the aid which can be used to pay towards a household’s energy bill.

The late passing of the 2025 budget – only in force since March 1 – means there is a delay in organising the vouchers. 

The precise date they will be available will be confirmed later in the year by the Ministry of the Economy. 

Eligibility criteria and the maximum voucher sum remain unchanged from previous years. 

Households with a revenu fiscal de référence (reference tax income number or RFR) not exceeding €11,000 are eligible, with vouchers providing an amount between €48 and €277.

Read more: What is the ‘RFR’ figure used by French tax authorities?

Note that the vouchers can no longer be used to partially fund eco-renovation projects due to changes included in the 2025 budget.

How do recipients receive the voucher? 

The French tax authorities automatically calculate which households are eligible for the voucher – and the amount they are set to receive - meaning recipients do not (usually) need to do anything. 

Last year, issues surrounding the abolition of taxe d’habitation meant some households needed to make a manual application for the vouchers. 

This year the authorities will use information collected from energy suppliers to help make calculations, although there are concerns that some eligible households may again be excluded and have to apply manually.

You can use the government simulator here to see if you qualify for a voucher. 

Further information on whether manual applications will be required this year will be known at a later date.

The voucher is sent via post.